The five Manchester United games Sir Alex Ferguson will have to watch from the stands

Sir Alex Ferguson's hefty touchline ban has left him facing the prospect of
watching critical games against Manchester City and Arsenal from the vantage
point of the stands.

Banned: Manchester United will have to do without the presence of their manager on their touchline for their next five domestic outings. Photo: Reuters

By Telegraph staff

3:26PM GMT 16 Mar 2011

At this critical point in the season, it is the prospect of watching his side from the stands for five games, not the sizeable fine, that will be Sir Alex Ferguson's major worry.

United's opponents will take heart from the FA's decision to throw the book at Ferguson - perhaps local rivals Manchester City most of all. His absence from the United dressing room in theFA Cup semi-final at Wembley may prove critical in the latest round of an increasinly nervy match-up.

The next game, against Arsenal at the Emirates, might be the tie which determines the outcome of the Premier League.

Ferguson's first game back in the dug-out - should he choose not to appeal for a second time - will be against Chelsea on May 7. Should Ferguson appeal, and that appeal be unsuccessful, he risks the ban being extended to a sixth game.